Flatwork drying, folding, pressing, and counting machine



p 1941- B. A'. PARKES EIAL 2,256,327

' FLATWORK DRYING, FOLDING, PRES$ING, AND COUNTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2, 1958 9 Sheets-Sheet l fifiz P5 6? Pa m 5. WW4

ATTORNEY FLATWORK DRYING; FOLDING, PRES SING, AND COUNTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2, 1958 '9 Sheets-Sheet 2 A1TORNEY' Sept. 16, 1941.

a. A. PARKES ET AL 2 7 FLATWORK DRYING, FOLDING, PRESSING, AND COUNTING MACHINE 9 sheets-Shaka; a

, Filed Dec. 2, 1958 ATTORNEY p 16 1941. B. A. PARKEs HAL I 2 256,327

' FLATWORK DRYING, FOLDING, PRESSING, AND COUNTING MACHINE sa Sheets-Sheet 4 w //V VE N TORS- BER AWA/J) 17 Pa r/ 5. 592. PH 17/?455.

Filed De o. 2, 1938 \QN. RE wmw 33 $7M A A'ITORNEY Sept. 16, 1941. B. A. PARKES ETAL FLATWORK DRYING, FOLDING, PRESSING, AND COUNTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2, 1938 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 //v vs/v fans. 55/? TREND /7. Him/(5. F192 PHGPAWKES.

ATTORNEY gzmwz P 4 B.'A. PARKES EI'AL 2,256,327

' FLATWORK DRYING, FOLDING, PRESSING, AND COUNTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2, 1938 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 p 1941. B. A. PARKES ETAL' 2,256,327

FLATWORK DRYING, FOLDING, PRESSING, AND COUNTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2, 1938 QSheets-Sheet 8 m YEN TOR-S. BzRr/rfl/w/Z Pap/res. fin/7;; 61' Haw/r55.

ATTORNEY B. A. PARKES E'rAL FLATWORK DRYING, FOLDING, PRESSING, AND COUNTINGMACHINE Sept. 16, 1941.

9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Dec. 2, 1958 MMFZJOU s 5% MPMWW m twp M m L j R Patented Sept. 16, 1941 1 FLATWORK DRYING, FOLDING, .PRESSING, AND COUNTING MACHINE Bertrand A. Parker and Ralph C. Parked,

' Philadelphia, Pa.

Application December 2, 1938, Serial No. 243,570.

8 Claims.

Our invention relates to a new and useful flat work ironing, drying, folding and counting machine for use in industrial laundries for the handling of diapers, napkins, towels and similar flat I work.

Industrial laundries, that is, those serving relatively large establishments such as hospitals and other institutions and which also take bulk work from smaller so-called hand laundries often handle large quantities of flat pieces such as thousands of napkins, diapers, towels, or the like, which must be dried, ironed, folded and counted, and, as faras we are aware, a machine for accomplishing all of these functions automatically, and which only requires the feeding of the fiat work thereto, has not been heretofore known or used. i I

It is also necessary in a machine of this character, especially when handling a large number of pieces of flat work for a given institution or customer, not only to count the same, but also to divide them into batches of a. predetermined size for convenient handling and delivery and this, as far as we are aware, has never heretofore been accomplished in this field.

With these objects in view we have devised, built and successfully operated a machine into which a plurality of pieces of flat work can be fed simultaneously and in which such pieces of flat work are propelled through a drying chamber, are folded, smoothed or ironed as they are being folded, delivered to a counting mechanism which registers the total number of pieces handled, and to another counting mechanism which subdivides the pieces handled into batches of any desired, predetermined number.

Generally speaking our novel machine comprises means for receiving pieces of flat work to be handled and centering them with respect to conveyors which carry them into the drying chamber, means for picking the pieces of flat work in a partially folded condition from said conveyors and simultaneously subjecting them to an ironing or smoothing operation, means for further folding the pieces of flat work and dropping them onto a moving belt conveyor and, finally, means for counting all the pieces handled and for segregating them in predetermined numbers.

chine embodying our invention, certain parts being omitted.

Figs. 2 and 2a represent a side elevation of a machine embodying our invention, certain parts being omitted.

Fig. 3 represents on a slightly enlarged scale a view partly in section and partly in elevation on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Figs. '4 and 5 represent details of construction of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 represents on an enlarged scale a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 6a represents on an enlarged scale a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation on line Ga-Sa of Fig. 1a.

Fig. 7 represents on an enlarged scale a side.

view of the mechanism for lifting the flat work from the conveyor after it is dried.

Fig. 8 represents a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 represents a section on line 9-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 represents on an enlarged scale a fra mentary view of the mechanism shown at the lower right hand corner of Fig. 6 the flat work supporting pole beingshown in section.

Fig. 11 represents diagrammatically a mechanism for releasing the clamps normally holding the flat work on the pole prior to the lifting of the flat work from the pole.

Fig. 12 represents on an enlarged scale a side elevation of the left hand half of Fig. 11 showing the pole in dotted lines.

Fig. 13 is a section on line I3--|3 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 14 represents a perspective View of a piece of flat work after it is dried but before it is folded.

Fig. 15 represents a view of the flat work shown in Fig. 14, the same being partly folded.

Fig. 16 represents a similar view to Fig. 15 showing the fiat work completely folded.

Fig. 17 represents diagrammatically and in perspective the counting mechanism.

Fig. 18 represents a fragmentary plan view on a slightly enlarged scale showing details of 1 the counting mechanism construction.

Fig. 19 represents a section on line l9-I9 of Fig. 18.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts, and more particularly to Fig. 2a, 20 designates a motor or other source of power which drives the belt or sprocket chain 22 to turn the sprocket wheel or pulley 24 which is mounted on a shaft 23 which also carries the bevelled gear 26 which meshes with the bevelled gear 28 on the shaft 30. The shaft 30 carriesthe sprocket or pulley 32 which,

by means of a belt or sprocket chain 33 drives the pulley or sprocket 34 on the shaft 36. The shaft 36 carries the bevelled gear 38 which meshes with the bevelled gear 40 to drive the shaft 42'. As will be best seen from Fig. 1 the shaft 42 carries the end cogs 44 which mesh with gears 46 mounted on the shaft 48 to drive the latter. On the spokes of the opposite end gears 46 are pivoted the crank arms 50 which are pivoted at their other ends to the rocker arms 52 which are fast on the shaft 54. The crank arms 50 are provided with any suitable adjustment 56. As.

seen from Figs. 1 and 2 the shaft 54 is provided with a number of bell cranks 58 which are con-' drawn over the feed table 80 on its way into the machine.

In order to carry the fiat work from the clamping mechanism into the drying chamber we provide a carrier consisting of a suitable conveyor 82 travelling over .the sprockets or pulleys 84 in the directionof the arrows 86.

clamping mechanisms 64 consists of the fixed.

releasing position in Fig. 2 and in its forward,

clamping position in Fig. 3. When the clamping mechanism 64 is in its rear, releasing position as shown in Fig. 2, it is supported and guided by the rails 65, and when the clamping mechanism 64 is in its forward, clamping position as shown in Fig. 3, it rides on the supporting and guiding rollers II. In order to open the clamping mechanism 64 on its rearward stroke (to the left of Fig. 2) to release the flat work previously held thereby, we provide the upper jaw 68 with a cam I which is adapted to ride over a cam 12 carried by the frame of the machine. This raises the hinged member 68 from contact with the lower member 66 as shown in Fig. 2. On the return, or forward stroke of the clamping mechanism 64 (to the right as shown in Fig. 2) the cam has, dropped ofi the cam 12, and the upper movable jaw 68 drops into clamping position upon the lower jaw 66. In order again to open ing mechanism moves towards the feed or for- 1 ward end of the machine, the cam 10 (see Figs. 1 and 2) rides over the cam 16 thus again opening the clamping mechanism 64 by raising the arm 68. The upper and lower members 68 and 66 of the clamping mechanism 64 are provided with the cushions 'II for adequate engagement with the flat work I8. In this position of the parts the fiat work 'l8.is placed on the feed table 80 and its leading edge is introduced through the slot 8i in the front guard 83 of the machine. The guard 83 is provided with a transparent section through which the operator can observe the feeding of the flat work 18 to the clamping mechanism 64. The leading edge of the flat work 18 rests on the platform 19 in advance of the clamping mechanism and with the clamping mechanism still moving to the right in. Fig. 2 the cam I0 drops ofi the cam 16 whereupon the upper member 68 of the clamping mechanism drops onthe fiat work 18 resting on the platform I9 with the lower jaw or. arm 66 disposed below the platform I8. As'the-clamping mechanism 64 is moved rearwardly (to the-left of Fig. 2) the fiatwork I8 is drawn off the platform 19, and assumes the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The feed table 80 is provided on its upper. or effective surface with the diverging ridges 85 which tend to spread the fiat work 18 as the latter is The conveyor 82 carries a ,series'of suitably spaced poles 88. As the clamping mechanism nears the position shown in Fig. 2, one of the poles 88 moves upwardly in the space 80 between the guides 92 into a position corresponding to the center of the flat work I8 so that, as the on each side of the pole. This is clearly shown in Fi s. 2 and 3. In this position the flat work is carried into the drying chamber 9I where its subjected to the action of hot air or other drying medium and in order to prolong the travel of the fiat work inthe drying chamber without at'thesame time increasing the length of the drying chamber, the poles 88 travel up and down between the upper and lower sprockets '84 as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 2a. 93'designates a tensioning mechanism for taking up the slack on the conveyor 82. v The conveyor is also adjusted by mounting one of the sprockets 84 upomthe bracket 94 which is engaged by :the threaded element 95 so that it may,

be moved to the right or to the left of Fig. 2a

as desired. The poles 88 are preferably constructed of internal members of ordinary sheet iron or the like 56 and are covered with rustproof jackets 88 such as stainless steel or the like. In order to retain the flat work 18 on the pole 88 from thefeed end of the machine into and through the drying chamber 9|, we provide each pole with a plurality of clamps I00 which are mounted on the rods I02 which are carried by the poles 88. The clamps I00 are actuated by the springv I04 into constant engagement with, or clamping position against, the

pole 88. Each of the clamps I00 is provided with a relatively soft of resilient, effective or clamping edge I06, to prevent slippageand to insure against damaging the flat work 18. As the pole 88 approaches the front or feed end of the machine it is obviously necessary that the clamps I00 be opened in order to permit the draping of the fiat work 18 onto the pole and for that purpose we secure to the frame of the a machine the arm I08 to which is secured the curved arm H0 (see Figs. 2 and 3), so that, as the projecting end I01 of the clamp I00 rides against the lower end of thecurved arm IIO, the clamp I00 is slightly opened against the tension of the spring I04. As the pole 88 progresses further upwardly the end I01 of the clamp I00 rides against the cam surface H2 in which position the clamp is completely opened. Whenthe pole 88 has passed the horizontal center of the opening 90, the clamp I00 has cleared the high point of the cam H2 and gradually closes upon the fiat work 18 which is now draped on the pole 88. In order to insure gradual closing without any snapping, the

clamp I00 is made to ride upon the oppositely I curved cam surface H4. The fiat work I8 is now firmly clamped on the pole while it travelsshaft I18 of a motor (not shown).

.ets' I86 and I88 are normally in a raised position the end gears II 6 which mesh with gears II8 on the shaft I28. The shaft I28 carries the rocker arms I22 which are secured to the crank arms I28 which are pivoted to the links I26. The other end of the links I26 are joumalled on the shaft I28. n the shaft I28 are the end ratchet wheels I88. The links I26 carry the springpressed dogs I82 which are adapted to engage the spaced notches of the ratchet wheels I88 tovpropel the'latter and on the frame of the machine are also mounted the pawls I88 which prevent retrograde movement of the ratchet wheels I88. The shaft I28 rotates one of the sprocket wheels 88 which engage the conveyor 82 thus propelling it step by step according to the propulsion of the ratchet wheels I38.

In order to remove the flat work 18 from the poles 68 we provide a pickup mechanism which engages the flat work 18 along the center fold I81, and thus lifts the flat work 18 from the edges I81, so that, as the brackets I88 and I88 are lowered, the cams I61 riding upon the opposite sides of the fixed bracket I88, force the rollers I86 and I88 apart against the action of the springs I88. In this spaced condition the rollers I86 and I88 are lowered down upon the pole 88 and, after contacting the surfaces of the pole 88 in the folded condition shownin Fig. 15.

With the pickup mechanism we combine means for further folding the flat work and dropping it onto a delivery conveyorhereinafter to be described. The pickup mechanism consists of a pair of rollers I86 and I88 between which the fold line I81 of the flat work 18, on the pole 88 is adapted to be engaged. The roller I86 is carried by the bracket I88 which also carries the roller I82. The roller I88 is similarly carried by the bracket I88 which also carries the roller I86. I58 designates a belt which travels endlessly in the direction of the arrow I5I over the rollers I88, I86 and I52. I58 designates another belt which travels over the rollers I86, I82 and I 56 in the direction of the arrow I51. I68 designates still another belt which travels over the rollers I86, I82 and I62 and back under the roller I56. The roller I62 is on the shaft I68 which is driven by the belt or sprocket chain I66 from the shaft I68. The shaft I68 is driven by the belt or sprocket chain I18 and the pulley flat work 18,the brackets I88 and I88 are again raised by the wheel I18 leaving the concave portion I19 of the cam I16 and again riding upon the high portion thereof to' turn the wheel I86 in clockwise direction and wind the chain I88 thereon. The piece of flat work folded in half, which has been engaged by the contacting and rotating rollers I86 and I88 now travels between the belts I58 and I58 and between the rollers I56 and I52 on its way to the delivery belt. In order to fold the flat work 18 in half again, we provide the knife 288 which is pivoted at 282 to the arm 288. The arm 288 is pivoted to the rocker arm 286 which is fulcrumed at 288 and which, at its other end, is pivoted to the or sprocket I12 which in turn is driven by the The brackso that the rollers I26 and I88 clear the tops of the poles 88. When the pole 88, on which a piece of flat work 18 is folded in half, reaches the point C (see Fig. '1) it is necessary todrop the rollers I86 and I88 towards the pole, to pick up the folded piece of flat work. This is accomplished by the cam I16 which turns with the cog wheel H8 and on which is adapted to ride the roller I18 fulcrurned at I82 to the frame fofthe machine. The arm I88 is pivoted at its upper end to the link I88 which is secured to the arm I85 which is secured to the rock shaft I88 which carries the wheel I86. (See Figs. 2a and 6.) Around the wheel I86 is a chain or other flexible element I88 which is suitably secured to the bracket I88 at I85. ,In this way when the wheel I16 rides on the round or concentric portion of the cam I16 the rollers I86 and I88 and the brackets I88 and I88 remain in their upper position, but, when the wheel I18 rides on the convex portion I16 of the cam I16, the arm I88 swings to the right of Fig. 2a

thus permitting the wheel I86 to tum in'coungagement with the flat work 18 on the pole 88.

- The rollers I86 and I88 are normally urged into contact with each other, as shown in Fig. 7, by the springs I88, and, in order to space them bell crank 2I8 which is actuated by'the wheel 2I2 on the shaft I88 which also carries the' wheel I86. In this way the knife 288 is recipr'ocated in timed relationship with the arrival of the already once folded piece of flat work 18 thereunder. In order to present the folded flat work to the lower edge of the knife 288 we provided the rollers 2I6 and 2I8, the latter being completely under the platform 228 while the roller 2I6 is positioned in registration with an opening near the front end of the platform 228. In this way the belt I68 which carries the flat work 18 goes under the platform 228 and.the flat work 18 itself rides on the platform 228 which is provided with a rear stop 22 I. The platform 228 is of a size suilicient to accommodate the particular piece of flat work 18 to be handled.

and is provided with "-a central slot 222 so that the initially longitudinally folded flat work 18, as shown in Fig. 15, will, when placed on the platform, be folded once again when the knife drops thereover into the slot 222. When the knife 288 drops over the flat work 18 through the slot 222, it not only folds again the already once folded piece of flat work 18 into the form shown in Fig. 16, but it also delivers the newly folded edge thereof to a pair of coacting, longitudinal rollers 228, which deliver the flat work 18 onto the delivery belt 226. The rollers 228 are actuated in a manner hereinafter described. As each of the poles 88 approaches the point at which the rollers I86 and I88 are ready to pick arms ill of the clamps I88 and thus compel the latter toopen just before the poles 88 reach the position C below the rollers I86 and III as shown in Fig. 7. The, clamps I88 are held open through the necessary predetermined distance of their movement by the flat spring 288. In order to prevent the vibration of the machine from unbalancing or even dropping the flat work 18 oif'the poles 88 while the clamps I are open and before the flat work 18 has been picked up by the rollers I36 and I38, we provide on the wheel I36 the plates 242 to which are pivoted the extensions 244 by means of the pins 246, the extensions 244 being pressed outwardly by the springs 248. The extensions 244 are so spaced on the wheel I36 that immediately before disengagement of the clamps I00 by the roller 236 the faces 250 of the spring-pressed extensions 244 engage the end supports 240 of the poles 88. As the pole 88 moves from the position shown in solid lines to that shown in broken lines in Fig. 10, the face 250 of the extension 244 is disengaged from contactwith the end support 249 and the bevelled face 25I enfolded fiat work 18 from the poles 88.- As shown in Fig. 1 the machine has been built to feed,

, dry, fold and deliver four pieces of flat work 18 from each pole 88, but this illustration is only for the purpose of convenience and due to the difficulty of adequately illustrating a larger machine, and it is explained at this point that the actual machine from which these drawings were made had accommodation for the handling of is provided with the bevelled edge 292 which is adapted to be engaged by the bevelled edge 294 of the arm 296. The arm 296 is suitably secured to the arm 298 which is adapted to be actuated by the electromagnet 300 which position best shown in Fig. 19 thus integrating a greater number of pieces of flat work than shown and described. Thus, if the pole 88 were to be provided with twelve clamps (00 dividing it into six sections, we will have a corresponding number of 'sets of pickup rollers I36, I38, "which will deliver alternating folded pieces of flat work to the belts 226 and 254 which, in that event, need only be made longer. Each of the belts 226 and 254 leads to a counting mechanism which is best illustrated in Figs. 2a and 17, and,

for the purpose of this specification, we will describe only one of the counting mechanisms. Thus, the completely folded fiat work 18, as shownin Fig. 16, which is delivered onto the belt 254 for instance passes over the platform 258 which has an opening 260 therein which is interposed between the two units, 262 and 264.

of a photoelectric cell. After passing over the platform 258 the folded fiat work 18 is deposited onto the shelves 266 and 268 provided with the outer stops 269; The interruption of the light through the opening 260 swings the shelves 266 and 2 68 apart. to drop the folded flat Work .Onto the bottom shelves 210 and 212.

After the particular piece of flat work has dropped off, the shelves 266 and 268 are again brought together to receive the next piece of shaft 284, and is. only adapted to be interlocked with the, collar .286 by means. of the pin 288 lwhihis urged by thsprm 290. The mraa the collar 286 with the gear 214 and, since the collar 286 'is keyed to the shaft 284, it follows that the shaft 284 is rotated when the arm 296 is withdrawn from the groove 304. The shaft 284 is provided with a pair of eccentrics 306 which, through suitablebell crank connections, are secured to the rods 308 which carry the shelves 266 and 268. Thus, by the rotation of the shaft 284 the shelves 266 and 268 are spaced apart to permit the piece of flat work which has been deposited on them to drop to the lower shelves 210 and 212, and, after the piece of flat work has been dropped, the shelves 266 and 268 are again brought to their normal position as shown in Fig. 1'1. If desired, the spring 3I0 may be used constantly to urge the arm 296 into the groove 304 to keep the pin 288,

positively out of engagement with the gear 286 except'when the electromagnet 300 is energized. The circuit 302 which is energized by a photoelectric cell by the passage of a piece of fiat work over the opening 260, also actuated a counter 3I2 which registers the number of pieces of flat work 18 successively passing over the opening 260. If it is desired not only to count the pieces of fiat work but also to deliver them in predetermined numbers, we provide the lower shelves 210 and 212 on which the pieces of flat Work dropped from the shelves 266 and 268 are deposited until the predetermined number has been reached, whereupon the predetermined number-is thus delivered, by the opening ofthe shelves 210 and 212, into a hamper or onto a conveyor or the like. In order to do this I connect the shelves 210 and 212 with a suitable toggle mechanism 3 which is connected by the link 3I6 to an eccentric 3I8 on the shaft 320. The shaft 320 is provided with the same actuating mechanism as the shaft 284, this actuating mechanism being connected by means of the circuit 322 to the counter 312. The photoelectro cells 262 and 264 are also connected by the circuits 324 and 326 to the counter 3I2. The counter 3I2, insofar as numbering the pieces of fiat work passing over the opening 260, is of any conventional construction. However, the counter 3I2 is preferably provided with a setting mechanism by means of which the number of pieces of fiat work, which are dropped from the 'shelves 266 and 268 onto the shelves 210 and 212" before the latter are allowed to open, is predetermined. Thus, if it is'desired to deliver pieces of fiat work in batches of fifty, the counter 3I2 is set to the figure {50 by pushing the button marked 50 of the buttons 328. When the counter 3I2 has thus been set, fifty pieces of fiat work 18 will drop onto the shelves 210 and 212 whereupon the latter will open and deliver the fifty pieces of flat work in a single batch to the operator,.a hamper, or a conveyor. If a greater or lesser number than fifty is desiredfor each batch, the appropriate button is pressed and the device is adjusted accordingly. The motor 282, which, through the connection 288, actuates the shaft 218 for operating the counting mechanism as already explained, also actuates the cog wheel 219 on the shaft 218. The cog wheel 219 through the connection 28I drives the cog wheel 285 on the shaft 281 of one of each pair of rollers 224 which receive the flat work'18 after 'it has been folded again from the condition shown in Fig. to that shown in Fig. 16 and deliver it to the belt 228, the other of said pair of rollers 224 being frictionally driven. The shaft 281 also carries the cog wheel 289 which, through the connection 29I drives the shaft 293. The shaft 293 carries a cog wheel 295 which, through the connection 291, drives the sprocket 299 which propels one of the pair of rollers which deliver the folded fiat work 18 onto the belt 254.

The operation is as follows:

The piece of flatwork to be treated is fed to the machine in the condition shown in Fig. 14

by insertion of an edge thereof through the openout any wrinkles in the flat work as it progresses over the grooved surface 85 into the machine. The clamping element 84, as soon as the machine is started, begins to reciprocate from the right to the left asshownhi Fig. 2 in timed relation with the movement of the poles 88. When the clamping mechanism 84 is in its extreme position to the right of Fig. 2, the jaw 88 is raised from the bottom jaw 88 so that the feed platform 19 and the leading edge of the flat work 18 will be disposed between the top and bottom cushions 11 of the jaws 88 and 88 when the arm 88 has fallen into its closing position upon the arm 88 as shown in Fig. 3 by the dropping of the cam' ment to the left of Figs. 2 and 3 thus drawing the flat work 18 inwardly through the slot into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. When one of the poles 88, which have a step by step movement synchronized with the movement of the clamping element 84, has reached the position shown at A in Fig. 2, the flat work 18 is in the position shown in dotted lines with the center line of the flat work in registration with the top edge of the pole 88.. The pole 88 now progresses upwardly through the opening 98 to the position marked B in Fig. 2 and in this way the flat work 18 is centrally draped over the pole 88,

that is, with one-half of the fiat work on one side of the pole and the other half of the fiat workon the other side thereof. The poles 88 travel over the sprockets 84 by means of the conveyor 82, and, when any given pole has emerged from the drying chamber 9I, it assumes the position shown at C in Fig.1. While the pole 88 is stationary at the position C, the rollers I38I38 are dropped or lowered onto the pole 88 by the action of the roller I18 and the cam I18 and wheel I88 and they are also simultaneously spaced by the cams I98, I91 riding on the bracket I98. This spreads the rollers I38 and I38 while they descend upon the pole 88 and, since the rollers I38I38 are travelling in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. '1, the fiat work is picked up along the center line thereof and travels between the belts I50 and I54. This results in folding the flat work along the center line thereof. and the travel of the flat work between the rollers I38 and I38 and the belts I58 and I 54 tends ,to have an ironing effect and the flat work now is in the condition shown in Fig. 15. The flat work is delivered from between the belts I58 and I54 onto the platform 228 and theknife 288, which is operated from the wheel 188 through the mechanism comprising the parts 284, 288, 288,

2I8, etc, now drops upon the center line D of the already once folded flat work as shown in Fig. 15 and feeds the newly formed edge or roll between the rollers 224 which further smooth the flat work in its newly folded condition as shown in Fig. 16 and deposit it either on the belt 228 the fiat work 18 has been draped over the pole 88, the clamps I88 are gradually closed to clamp the flat work on the pole before it reaches the point B. Similarly, the clamps I88 must be released immediately prior to the lifting of the fiat work from the pole by the rollers I38 and I38 and this is accomplished by the rollers 238 which abut against the wings I81 of the clamps I88. In order to steady the pole 88 against vibration which might displace or unbalance the flat work draped thereover between the opening of the clamps by the rollers 238 and the actual engagement of the flat work 18 by .the rollers I38 and I38 I provide the abutment plates 242 having thespring-pressed abutment extensions 244 against which the end supports 249 of the poles abut from the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 10 at which point the brackets I88 begin to open until the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 18 is reached and at'which the flat work 18 is lifted from the roller.

The completely folded fiat work as shown in Fig. 16 is dropped onto the delivery belt 228 or 254 as the case may be and the number so delivered is registered by the counting mechanism 3 I 2 which is controlled by the photo-electric cells 282 and 284 by interruption of the beam normally passing through the opening 288 as the flat work 18 passes over the opening 288. The bottom shelves 218 and, 212 are controlled by the counter 3I2 to open only at predetermined intervals corresponding to predetermined numbers of pieces of fiat work which have passedover the opening 288 so that batches of 58, 88 or 18 or any desired number within practical limits can be grouped in separate batches.

From the foregoing specification, as well as in the description of the operation, we have specifically described the handlingof one piece of flat work 18 on one pole 88 and we have also described the operation of one pick-up mechanism I38, I38, one folding knife 288, one clamping mechanism I88, one counting mechanism 3I2, and only one photo-electric cell assembly 288- 284 and only one set of actuating shelves 288, 288, 218 and 212. But, if reference is had to Figs. 1 and in it will be seen that there are alternately arranged a plurality of sets of such mechanisms, some of said sets leading to the delivery belt 228 and one set of the counting mechanisms, and the other leading to the belt 224 and another set of counting mechanisms. Similarly, it will be seen that we have a plurality of poles 88 each of which is divided into sections by a plurality of sets of clamps I88 with one from the shaft 36, all the pick-up mechanisms piece of flatwork 18 held between each pair of clamps. Similarly, it will be understood that if a pole is divided into four segments to handle four pieces of flat work 18 simultaneously, there will be four slots 8|, four feed tables 80, four clamping mechanisms 66 with corresponding means for raising and lowering the jaw 68, corresponding means for opening and closing the clamps 100, four pick-up mechanisms l36l38,

etc., etc., except that there will be only two delivery belts 226 and 254 each leading toa separate counting mechanism as shown in Fig. 1'1. It is to be noted that while we have used three different sources of power for actuating the various groups of the mechanisms forming part of our novel machine and it is also to be noted that- I36-l38 are lowered and raised by the cams I16 on the shaft I26 which also operates all the knives 200 that may be employed, etc., etc.

It will be noted that the poles 68 over which the flat work 18 is draped are wedge-shaped in cross section and taper upwardly to a point as best seen in dotted lines in Fig. so that a sharp crease is produced when the damp flat work 18 is draped over said poles and. passed through the drying chamber, which sharp crease or fold line I31 is engaged between the rollers I36 and I38. Also, it is to be noted that the cam 16 is pivoted at 14 so as to be in the way ofthe cam 10 while the clamping mechanism 66 is mov-.

ing to the right of Figs. 2 and 3 to raise the solid side walls 334 which form a complete enclosure for the space intervening between the shelves 266, 268, 210 and 212 but which will not interfere with the closing and opening of said shelves. The solid walls 334 are preferably provided with suitably spaced and, if desired, suit- I ably graduated openings 336 to permit gradual expulsion of the air to insure a gradual or retarded falling of the fiat work 18 from the upper shelves 266 and 268 to the lower shelves 210 and 212. Thus the folded fiat work 18, as shown in Fig. 16, which is slightly smaller in area than the inside area enclosed by the walls 334, will in falling off the shelves 266 and 268 act as a plunger with the air column below it acting as a cushion. The air thus compressed is gradually forced out through the openings 336 and the drop of the folded flat work 18 is thus cushioned.

While other means may be employed for the opening and closing of the shelves 266, 268, 210 and 212, we have found that the structure disclosed and which embodies the principle of a photo-electric cells energizing the magnet 306. The details of the counting mechanism 3I2 and the regulating buttons 328 have not been shown upper jaw 68 and so that, when the arm 68 has dropped to its closing position, the cam 10 will and 3, and the pivoting of the cam 16 at 1| permits it to be raised into an out-of-the-way position by the cam 16 on its return stroke.

With, respect to the counting mechanisms'266, 268, 210 and 212 it is pointed out that the flat work 18 travelling in the direction of the arrow towards the opening 260 would, in the absence of the construction disclosed, not be piled up neatly and in properly folded condition, since in the absence of the shelves 266 and 268 and the stops 263 the flat work 18 would tend to be thrown forwardly and drop in an arcuate manner. The function of the stops 269 is .to arrest the horizontal movement of the flat work 18 V, and it is to be noted that the shelves 266 and 268, by opening rapidly in opposite directions from under the folded fiat work 18, and with their movement being away from the center of the flat work, force the flat work 18 to drop onto the shelves 216 and 212 in a flat or horizontal .position. This constitutes an important feature. The shelves 210 and 212 maybe simply disposed below the shelves 266 and 268, or, if desired, vertical guides of any suitable construction can be employed to guide the pieces of flat work downwardly onto the shelves 210 and 212 to insure their being stacked up in a neat pile, but we have found that one desirable form of such guide or enclosure would be in the nature of for the reason that persons skilled in the art can construct the mechanism necessary to carry out the function desired, and for the further reason that the particular form of counter which we have developed will be disclosed and claimed in a separate application.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine of the character stated comprising, a drying chamber, an endless conveyor, a plurality of poles carried thereby, for carrying the flat work into and through said drying chamber to dry the same, means near the feed end of said machine for draping the fiat work along the center line thereof over said poles, and means disposed near the exit end of said drying chamber for lifting the flat work off said poles including a series of rollers, endless belts travelling over the same, means for normally retain ing said rollers in an inoperative and closed position away from said poles, means for advancing said rollers towards said poles, means for simultaneously opening said rollers as they approach said poles to permit entry of the center line of 'the flat work draped on said poles therebetween, and means for again moving said rollers with the flat work travelling therebetween away from said poles.

2. A machine of the character stated including a drying chamber, an endless conveyor, a plurality of poles carried thereby, means for draping the fiat work to be treated over said poles, said poles being of a tapered vertical cross section whereby a crease is formed in said fiat work along its line of contact with said poles and means for propelling said poles through said drying chamber to dry said fiat work.

3. The combination with a machine having a feed end and a delivery end, of a clamping mechanism ieciprocable towards and away from said feed end and adapted to engage the edge of a piece of fiat work at the feed end of said machine and to draw said flat work inwardly away ing mechanism when the latter is substantially at its furthest position away from said feed end whereby said flat work is draped substantially along the center line thereof off said pole.

4. The combination with a machine having a feed end and a delivery end, of a mechanism reciprocable towards and away from said feed end for engaging the edge of a piece of flat work at the feed end of said machine and to draw said fiat work inwardly away from said feed end, a pole, means for propelling said pole between said feed end and said clamping mechanism when the latter is substantially at its furthest position away from said feed end whereby said flat work is draped substantially along. the center line thereof over said poleyand means for picking and pressing said flat work substantially along the center line thereof off said pole.

5. The combination with a machine having a feed end and a delivery end, of a clamping mech- 20 means at the feed end of said machine for anism reciprocable towards and away from said feed end and adapted to engage the edge of a piece of fiat work at the feed end of said machine and to draw said flat work inwardly away from said feed end, a pole, means for propelling said pole between said feed and and said clamping mechanism when the latter is substantially at its furthest position away from said feed end whereby said fiat work is draped substantially along the center line thereof over said pole, means for picking said fiat work substantially along the center line thereof 01! said pole, and means for folding said flat work transversely of the center line thereof.

6. The combination with a machine having a feed end and a delivery end, of a clamping mechanism reciprocable towards and away from said feed end and adapted to engage the edge 01' a piece of flat work at the feed end of said machine and to draw said flat work inwardly away from said feed end, a pole, means for propelling said pole between said feed end and said clamping mechanism when the latter is substantially at its furthest position away from said feed end whereby said flat work is draped sub- 10 a piece of flat work at the feed end of said machine and to draw said flat work inwardly away from said feed end, a pole, means for propelling said pole between said feed end and said clamping mechanism when the latter is substantially at its furthest position away from said feed and whereby said fiat work is draped substantially along the center line thereof over said pole, means for picking said flat work substantially along the center line thereof off said pole, and

smoothing out said flat work while it is "being drawn into said machine by said clamping mechanism and before it is draped on said pole.

8. The combination with a machine having a as feed end and a delivery end, of a clamping mechanism reciprocable towards and away from said feed end and adapted to engage the edge of a piece of flat work at the feed and of said machine and to draw said flat work inwardly away from 80 said feed end, a pole, means for propelling said pole between said feed end and said clamping mechanism when the latter is substantially at its furthest position away from said feed end whereby said flat work is draped substantially along the center line thereof over said pole, means for.

picking said flat work substantially along the center line thereof ofl. said pole, means near the feed end of said machine for opening said clamping mechanism to receive the edge of said flat work, and means near the end of the movement of said clamping mechanism in the opposite direction for again opening said clamping mechanism to release said flat work, and means for retaining said clamping mechanism closed stantially along the center line thereof over said upon the edg f d flat work during its movepole, means for picking said flat work substanclamps on said poles for normally retaining said flat work thereon, means near the feed end of ment.

IBER'I'RAND A. PARKE-S. RALPH C. PARKES. 

